Great idea this thread! Count me in too - I am training for Dublin marathon and have done 2 10k races recently 70mins in June and 66.16 in July so miles away from breaking the hour yet - but very determined!!

Bola : Re. the Birkenhead Cancer Research 10K not being quite 10K, I'm going off this thread: http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?dt=4&utn=110969&last=1&V=1&SP=

Several people ran it last year and their GPS devices calculated 9.5KM, and when I've done the Race For Life in Liverpool, several other runners have commented that their GPS was saying under 5KM. The only reason I can think is for ease of plotting the course and fitting in all the other things like the big finish line and stages/loos/food and such.

Or maybe they're being slightly more sinister and trying to guarantee more crazed excitement, (and hence good photo ops,) at the finish line wheneveryone finishes in a shorter time than expected! But at least now I'm onto them...

It's normal to be nervous I did my first last Sunday and I was getting silly with nerves. In my race I felt a bit like the tortoise and the hare as i plodded past a few who went off too quick and ended up walking.

Try to enjoy it and not put too much presure on yourself. What ever you get will be a PB and you learn a lot about yourself.

I went out to do 40 mins easy today but went off too fast and turned it in to a 5k managed it in 29.00 which is the fastest I have run over that distance.

Plod - sorry about the Nike thing, although I'm glad you checked on here first! I'lll be collecting mine on Monday. Are they all the same colour? Please do not say they are orange again - I ran in their last race (South Vs North) and the North had a lovely green. We had to wear orange

Anna - you would think if someone had noticed in in previous races it would have been changed by now?? Oh well, doing less and getting a good time will be great for your confidence - let us know how you get on.

I went for a quick half hour plod around the park today. Went ok and felt justified in the big bag of pick-n-mix I had at the cinema this afternoon (Mamma-Mia - total girly flick!)

I think all the Nike shirts are red - but i have no idea where i got that from...

Am really struggling with my feet at the moment. I haven't run since Tuesday or done a long run since Saturday and my feet really are not happy. Even walking causing twinges - some quite unpleasant. Am off to Runner's Needs at lunch time to get my gait re-assessed - am thinking perhaps my gait is not as neutral as they initially told me.

What do people think about this? Have a 10k race tomorrow - if I buy news shoes today should I wear them tomorrow in the hope that they won't hurt my feet, or wear my old shoes (that are only 3 months old) that i KNOW are going to hurt my feet?

I wouldn't wear anything new in a race, you never know how you will feel. I am no expert but I wouldn't risk anything new.

Maybe if your feet are sore it may be an idea to cancel the race. If it the shoes then you will have a chance to get used to the new shoes.

It's interesting about your gait because I wear a stability asic shoe but I have heard that when your running improves your gait changes.

When i started I was running i was doing 12 min miles. I ran 5k last night at 9.18 miles and thinking about it my running and landing must be different I dare not get mine checked again though because I have bought 2 pairs of asics which i am rotating.

If your not fit don't run you may be disappointed but not as disappointed as you will be if you can't complete the race.

Just wondered how long you have been running................ I am still at the 11 - 12 mmp after 4 months of training. I did do a 10k in 1.06 which is more like 10.40 but can't imagine getting down to under 10 for any distance. Inspire me!!!

I started running last sept on a run/ walk schedule and by dec was running up to 45 mins but slowly.

Then I injured my ITBS in Janualy and didn't run again until May My first hour run was 11/12 min miles but I don't honesly know how I have got faster. My longer runs now are around the 10/10.30 mark.

I just seem to have got faster. I did have a sore ankle and rested for a couple of days then after the rest I did a couple of 20 min runs to test it and as the distance wasn't daunting I went out fast ( well fast for me) and kept it going as I knew it wasn't for long.

Last night I actually went out to run an easy 40 mins but noticed my speed was up so really tried to maintain it and ran 5k 2 mins faster than I had before.

I am no expert but if you can speed up a bit on short runs then slow yourself down over longer distances that is what I do.

66 for a 10k is good and if you did 10.40 then your runs are improving it will happen if it's happening for me believe me it will happen for anyone.

I agree Susie b - I was one of those people who avoided PE in school because I was overweight and useless. I do a race now and, even if I'm near the end of the pack, its like sticking two fingers up at all my old PE teachers as I cross the line and collect my medal !!

Plod - why don't you ask the people at Runners Need what they think. I'm with Susie, I wouldn't wear new shoes in a race unless I'd given them a little test run beforehand. Perhaps you could do that today and decide from there. Good luck to you anyway - x

So - I just got back from Runners Needs and have decided that i really do not like that place.

Explained to the woman, been running 3 months, had gait analysis, told was neutral bought shoes etc but now getting pain in feet and could i have gait analysed again please in case it had changed. The women was ridiculously snooty, made me feel about 3 foot high (i'm nearly 6 foot!) and informed me - TWICE - in most condescending manner possible that extremely unlikely that gait has changed. Felt like fool who was wasting her time and stuttered something about having read somewhere that maybe it can change.

Got on treadmill and look - lo and behold surprise surprise i am indeed rolling in when i run. Whereupon she suddenly got a lot more helpful, got someone else over to check who confirmed this is the case. Thought I'd have to fork out for new ones but turns out if i can find the receipt or bank statement with the transaction on they'll give me new shoes! Hurrah!

She told me not to run though til i get new shoes but am still going to do my 10k tomorrow just super slow. My mate is running 10k for first time and aiming for 1:20 so will just stick with her and not try and break any world records...

Me too....i was a dab hand at forging my mums signature to get out of PE. One teacher use to tell me PE was good as it helps you when you give birth......i was like i am 14 i dont want bloody kids!!!!!!

But now like all you lot am doing it because i enjoy it........and the same as poshpaws getting up Sunday morning to race.....and hopefully do better than my consistent 67 mins!

Count me in, I have started running again after about 4 years off and i am running my first 10K at LEeds Castle on OCt 12th. So i am running 4.2 Miles (Measured by Friends Garmin Watch thing) in 40 minutes at the moment so i am hoping for less than 59.59 for this 10K I have just started doing a hill session once a week so hopefully that will help and also help with the extra 3 stone i am carrying.

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